A sentimental journey into my past and into my present, as there would be no present without the past. A collection of recipes, pictures and thoughts. A vehicle, really, to allow me to "find" myself, once again, through my travels in a wonderful time capsule smelling of Borotalco, green Palmolive soap, basil and the smell of the sea, which came in through our windows in my past and forever present time in the place where my soul wants to be: MY WONDERFUL ITALY!

Thursday, 10 April 2014

There's a little window, deep in my heart, where the grapevines are always
laden with bunches of sweet fruits of green and gold opal. It is my secret
place, where I sometimes like to hide, as, to me, it's like a treasure chest
full of all the things I love. Inside, well hidden, are my home, my family,
people who came before me and then left... all seems to be in lost in time...
But I know everything is still locked in there, as time cam be switched on, by
the beat of your heart and if you really, really want to...

Beyond that window are the blue sea, and the sky. Even the rocks, above the
water, are full of life, as little creature live in them and make sounds you can
hear, at night, if you walk on those rock warmed up by the sun.

I want to go there, today, inside my secret place, behind the window and
the grapevine, and share a little clip from the movie which has been my life,
until today.

I am walking home from school, a little girl of maybe eight, with a group
of friends. My satchel feel heavy and I feel lazy. There is a place, a kind of
enclosed court yard, surrounded by blocks of flats. I know I shouldn't cut
through that place, because I am not allowed, but today... today I am going to
be naughty, like Collodi's Pinocchio and I will do what I want to do! I am going
that way!

We walk and we sing. We swing our satchels, we chase each other and we
laugh. Oh, how I enjoy feeling free! They will never come looking for me
here!

Suddenly, my friends go quiet. They stop running, singing and chasing me. I
stop... I feel him behind me... he's big, he's tall... he's blond... oh, my God!
It's my Dad! I shout "Babbo! Che fai?" ( I knew very well what he was doing...)
"Ti ho detto mille volte di non venire qui!" "I told you thousands of times you
mustn't come here!" Then, he... gets hold of my letf ear, just like Mastro
Geppetto did with Pinocchio, when he sold the gold buttons off his jacket,
and drags me, like a donkey, all the way home! The pain! My ear is sore, but not
as sore as my EGO! Everyone laughs as my dad drags me home! The shame of it! And
the pain!( But I learnt my lesson. Though I did go back a few times...)

Once home, there she is, my mamma Rosa, really upset because by now I
am crying. My ear is so red and it hurst and I know my friends must still be
laughing at me. ( Well... I knew I would have never forgotten that episode,
because it was the only time my dad punished me. He was the kindest, gentlest of
men. like my sister says:" Nostro padre non era un uomo... era un angelo!"" Our
father was not a man, he was an angel!")

Anyway... he must have felt really bad, because a few minutes later, he
came to see me and gave me a little plate with a fresh slice of crusty bread
with lots of sweet, delicious Nutella spread all over it! "Fai la merenda. Avrai
fame!" "Have your afternoon snack. You must be hungry!"

He then took me out and
bought me an ice cream! My poor, dear Babbo! He must have felt guilty!

Last week, I bought an enormous 750g jar of Nutella! Wow! And I actually
used some of it to make a semifreddo. I only made it to stop myself from eating
all that smooth deliciousness, but... my semifreddo was so good, so I will make
one for you!

And here it is:

Semifreddo alla Nutella

e Cioccolato

Ingredients:

450g (about 1lb) Nutella Spread

50g (2 oz) sugar

4 whole medium eggs

100g (4 oz) dark chocolate

50g (2 oz) white chocolate

200ml (8fl oz) whipping cream

a few tsp Mascarpone

( this is very optional!)

3 tbs liquer of your choice

Extra chocolate for decoration

(Or a selection of crushed nuts

if you prefer)

Boudoir Biscuits or

Savoiardi

Place your Nutella in a bowl and heat for about 20 seconds in
the microwave, or in a saucepan, on the ring, if you prefer. Set aside. Till
will soften your Nutella.

Next, place your eggs and sugar in a bowl and whisk over a pan
of boiling water, until you get a beautiful creamy texture (this will take about
5 minutes) a bit like a zabaione. If the water is boiling too fast, turn down
slightly. Set aside.

Using a cheese grater, grate your dark and white
chocolate.

Your cream will have to be whipped, too, in a largish bowl, as
this is where all the ingredients will have to mixed, but make you don't over
whip, or it will separate.

Now, you have most of your ingredients ready and you can START!
Add the whisked egg mixture to the whipped cream and gently fold. Next, in goes
your Nutella, which will have to be incorporated, again, gently. At this point
you should get a soft, airy chocolate colour mousse type mixture... very
nice!

Add a tbs of liqueur, if you wish, or some vanilla essence, plus
your grated white and dark chocolate. Mix lightly and taste. You have to have a
taste... you will be tempted!

Now you can line a container with cling film. Use two long
pieces which will cross in the middle. Make sure the cling film overlaps the
tin. Be generous.

I made my semifreddo in a bread tin, lined with cling film, as I
like the shape, and it makes my semifreddo easy to slice. I gently poured my
mixture into the tin ( as you can see from the picture, I also added a few
teaspoons of Mascarpone, unsweetened. I let it slip into the mixture and covered
with a few Savoiardi, or Boudoir biscuits gently and quickly dipped in a sweet
liqueur. Having made sure I used enough cling film, I gathered the excess over
the top of my semifreddo, as you can see from the pictures, and placed in on a
flat surface in the freezer.

Semifreddo takes five to six hours to set. When it's ready, you
can turn it out onto a serving dish and decorate any way you like. You can use
fruit dipped in chocolate, chopped nuts, meringues, mini eggs... anything! Be
very creative! you will have such fun!

I made a few very pretty dark and white chocolate flowers,
which I placed all over my semifreddo, with mint shoots from the garden. It
looked so pretty! Too pretty to eat, really! But what can you do? A person's got
to do what a person's got to do!

I actually also made a gluten free version, by omitting the biscuits. I often have to think of making recipes gluten free, for a family member. Not good when it comes to making pastry with gluten free flour and a special addictive, but you can make fantastic cakes, using gluten free flour, and cheese cake, with gluten free Digestives (Graham biscuits)

My dad was a very good man. I can't remember ever being hit by him, or him being angry, or shouthing. I know understand that housing estate, where he caught me, wasn't a good place for a little girl to be!

What! You're back! I can't believe, there goes my calorie controlled diet, out the window!I have to go back and drool over this recipe one more time. You really are so talented and creative Anna, a real smart cookie!

Ciao Anna - I have missed your childhood reminiscences - I know that you had a devilish streak in you as a young girl. I remember you saying that you walked out of school because you didn't like it.The semifreddo looks delicious, but please tell me it is not loaded with calories Anna! I am trying my best to be good for the summer.Are you in the UK or Italy at the moment?

Hello, Rosemary! I'm afraid semifreddo is calorific and I, too, have gone on a diet, though I just had some Kinder chocolate, because I " needed" it! I would like to lose a few pounds. We have an Italian wedding in June and I have bought a black jumpsuit I would like to wear for it, so I have to be really slim!

I am in UK at the moment, but will go back to Italy within the next couple of weeks. The house is beautiful and the weather is fine. Also, lots of nice celebrations!

Thank you for reading my post. I have been away such a long time, I think all my friends and followers and friends might have disappeared!

Dear Anna, Your blogger friends have not disappeared, we love your recipes and heartfelt stories so much.This looks so delicious, I think it will be worth the calories. I love your story. the only time I remember my Father being angry with me was when I stayed out too late on a date. he explained afterwards that it was because my Mother had been so worried. I still remember him striding down the garden path, ordering me inside and telling my young man exactly what he thought of him! Sending you lots of love Jane xxx

Hello, dear Jane! So lovely to read your comment! It's just like old times! I find editing pictures more time consuming than writing posts, so I am trying to simplify things, but I can't quite do that.

I think dads are very protective towards their daughters, because they probably believe them to be vulnerable (!!!!) I am sure there was a reason why I wasn't supposed to be in that place.

I think my dad was a bit psychic, like me, as he always seemed to know where I was and he surprised me with his questions.

But he was lovely and I always remember him as a beautiful, sweet man! I miss him!

Welcome back dear Anne!!I thought you stop blogging as many others bloggers did this year!I really like your story!!What a delicious recipe!!I like semifreddo,and i'll try your recipe!!Wish you a happy Easter!!Take care!!Dimi...

Good morning, Dimi! Yes, I noticed that several people have given up blogging. It is a shame, but sometimes life takes over and there is no time, or wish to post!

Will go back to Italy, soon and I will make a point of posting.... Such a wealth of fresh ingredients, it's unbelievable! Being in England, at the moment, I notice how hard it is eating well, when the variety of green ingredients is so limited!

I cannot have Nutella in front of me.. once i take a taste , i cant stop.. its terrible.Dearest Anna.. Malto buono vere te un altro vez.. e muito muito bom..Esta receita e delicioso..I must make an effort for Easter time. Although all my family are going away.How I love to read your stories of when you were a child.As we grow older, we seem to want to go back to those wonderful carefree days. Your poor papa.. he must have felt so bad.. but you got well rewarded.Its wonderful to see you again Anna.I have been very busy these last few months..Wishing you uma bello fim de semana.. amiga..val xx xxx

I love Nutella, too! So much so that I don't buy it, as I know I would eat all of it!

I will be here in England for Easter and then go back to hot, sunny Italy!

I am getting the impression some people are no longer posting... the atmosphere fells a bit different. What a shame! And I know I have not been posting, but editing my pictures, writing stories and step by step recipes is very time consuming, and I have been so busy!

I often think of my childhood and my teenage years in Italy. I was in a pub, last night, and the music I heard brought back so many memories and feelings!

It is lovely to see your smiling face and listen to your great story. Your dad sounds a lot like my father, firm but extremely kind and generous.This recipe sounds delicious. I do not have much time lately, painting is taking up all my time.Have a very Happy Easter

Hello Anna, I hope this find you well and happy enjoying life.I thought of you last week as we walked the streets of Milano.We had a marvellous trip to Italy our only complaint it was too short. Fondest wishes xx

OH does that look scrumptious, Italy is my favorite place in the world.I keep wondering why I don't see a comment on my post, just realized you are commenting on your own post.. Have a great day yvonne

About Me

I am writing this blog as it's the fun way for me to write the book I started so many times, but never finished.
I want to carry on and persevere, hoping that one day I can say:"It's finished!"
I am so enjoying the photography side of my blog. When you look at the world through a lens you notice things you never even "saw" before! I love being able to see "new" things and being able to add a new dimension to life.
I want to dedicate my sweet little blog to the memory of Rosa, my lovely mother who left me very recently. She always was and will continue to be my inspiration.